Earlier this month, we hosted two roundtable events – one in the Midlands and one in London – bringing together HR and recruitment professionals from across the social care sector. The conversations were rich, collaborative, and full of forward-thinking ideas to address some of the biggest challenges we’re all facing: attracting, recruiting, and retaining the right people.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed so generously to the discussion.
Here are some of the standout themes and actionable ideas that emerged:
Attracting Young Talent: Leverage technology, clear career pathways, and Gen Z-friendly communication to engage younger candidates and underrepresented groups like men.
Personalised Onboarding: Reduce early attrition with tailored onboarding experiences, including mentorship, flexible communication, and pre-employment engagement – especially critical as some providers report high dropout before day one.
Flexible Working: Offer staff-led rotas and flexible scheduling to boost engagement, satisfaction, and long-term retention.
Collective Recruitment Campaigns: Sector-wide marketing efforts could improve the image of social care and attract diverse talent pools.
Education Partnerships: Strengthen links between care providers and educational institutions to support smooth transitions into part-time or entry-level roles during studies.
Leadership Development: Equip managers with soft skills, provide clear progression pathways, and introduce middle-tier roles to nurture future leaders and foster accountability. It was clear: recruitment and retention must be owned by everyone for better success.
Data-Driven Retention: Use pulse surveys, exit, retention and stay interviews to understand and act on the reasons people stay or leave.
Digital Solutions: Implement technology not only for hiring and onboarding, but also to streamline daily operations and enhance employee engagement.
Inclusive Communication: Move toward bite-sized, accessible, and inclusive messaging formats that meet the needs of today’s diverse and digital-native workforce.
Supportive Culture from Day One: Focus on creating environments where staff feel supported, valued, and included – starting with a strong induction and clear growth opportunities.
Want to Find Out More?
We’ve captured the latest analysis of the the journey from enthusiasm to exit in our latest White Paper designed to help care providers of all sizes take action and drive positive change.
Whether you want to join our workforce retention club, attend future events, or talk through how we can support your recruitment and retention needs, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with our team today.
